Kinetoscope-shutter.



G. W. BINGHAM. KINETOSCOPE SHUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.22, 1908.

Patented June 7, 1910.

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r///.//// l IEW- D @wma/Joao ment of the shutter in opposite UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

GEORGE W. BING-HAM, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB. TO THE BINGHAM MANU- p FACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F MAINE.

xINEToscorE-SEUTTEE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented June 7, 1910.

Application filed April 22, 1908. Serial No. 428,601.

AKings'and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Kinetoscope-Shutters, of which the following is a specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which' it appertains to make and use thesame.

The present invention relates to moving picture machines, and has more particularly reference to the shutter employed for the purpose of alternately covering and uncoveringthe exposure opening. p

One of the objects of the invention is to arrange the shutterv with relation to the bottom edge of the exposureopening in such a manner that the light will be shut oil' equally entirely across the same-that is, the full width of the exposure opening-this in contradistinctionto the effect of theusual rotary shutter or oscillating shutter which moves like one of the jaws of a pair of acissors and cuts oif the light on an oblique Another'object is to vavoid or reduce the flickeringV effect produced by the present style of shutters. 4

In carrying out the above objects, the invention comprises the following: The shutter is reciprocated past the exposure openingl with its edges parallel to the edges of the exposure opening, thereby cutting olf the light equally across the face of said exposure opening. In the form here followed, the shutter is pivoted at right angles to the axis of the exposureJ opening. The shutter-is so timed that it will pass the exposure opening two or more times to each 4cycle of the machine, one of said movements taking place during the intermittent movement o the film and at relatively the same s eed as the movement'of the film, and the other of said movements taking place while the lm is standingtill. The shutter oscillates continuously" orsubstantially so, and the ymovedirections, may be unequal in speed. In such case as this, the movement o the shutter which coineides with the movement of the film is somewhat slower than that movement of the passes down across vancing roll shutter which takes place when the film is stationary.

Other features of construction will appear as the specication proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings there are -illustrated several preferred embodiments of the invention, but it willl be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure l is a broken detail view of the shutter mechanism'and film advancing ineanspof a moving picture machine equipped with my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the' shutter cam, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig.

. 1. Fig. `3 is a sectional view of the shutter cam. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a modified form of the invention.

Similar reference characters denote like parts throughout the several views. In the machine herein shown, the vfilm passes from the film support around, or partly around the film feeding devicebs on the shaft a5. This film feeding device ma be in the form of a sprocket provided with sprocket teeth b* to eniglage in the apertures` in the edges of the lm. vThe film then the face of a window member c provided with the usual exposure opening. There may be associated with this window member a door c2 provided with a corresponding exposure opening 0*. The film as held between the window member and the door in Fig. 1 is designated c3.

The means illustrated for intermittently advancing the film roll e7 carried b an oscillating arm e on the shaft e", an a guide roll e". The adis oscillated by means of a cam member e, having a cam slot c2 therein which is enga ed by a cam rolles on the end of an arm e* xed on the shaft e". This cam groove is of a roper shape to intermittently oscillate the lm advancing roll to cause said roll to pull the film down past .the exposure opening with an intermittent advancin movement. In connection with the film a vancin means there is preferably provided a ta e-up device, here shown in the form of a sprocket d on the shaft d, having teeth d7 for engagement with the consists of an ladvancing perforations in the edges of the film. Motion is imparted to the film advancing means and take-up device by suitable gearing, here shown as a main drive geara2 meshing with 6 which there is a gear d on the shaft d2, and

va gear d fixed with lrespect to the gear d and engaging' a pinion d* on the c am shaft d5.

The form of shutter mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1 consists of an oscillatory arm fz-pivoted to swing upon the bracket f and carrying a shutter blade f3 adapted to coperate w1th the'exposure opening. The shutter may be oscillated by any suitable means, such as a cam b having a cam slot b2 therein, which is enga ed bya projection or cam `roll f4`on the sutter carrying arm. This cam 1s designed to' cause a plurality of obscurations durin the exposure of each of the pictures. 'lghe number of obscurations per picture may vary. In the present instance, three obscura-tions are produced to each cycle of the machine. For this reason the cam groove, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is formed with three high points or outcurves, two of which are .equidistant from the other but which are themselves spaced a greater distance apart, and in this greater space between two of the outcurves, there is formed a substantially concentric portion lz, in the cam roove. Motion may e imparted to the s utter cam and the upper film feeding device by any suitable means, such as a gear a3 in mesh with the main drive gear, and engaging a gear a4 on the sprocket shaft c5, an a gear a ixedwith respect to the gear a4 andengaging the pinion a7 on the shutter cam shaft as.

The operation of these parts is as follows: In Fig. l the film advancing cam is approaching the position to cause actuation of the film advancing roll, that is, the projection or cam roll ea is about to enter upon the inwardl curving portion of the cam oove whi imparts the downward oscilation to the cam advancing roll. At the same time the concentric portion of the shutter cam is in engagement with the projection or cam roll ft'on the shutter arm. This concentric portion of the cam shutter permits the shutter to remain relatively stationary in the osition'shown in Fig. l, to obscure the li t during thel interval of time in which te film is being advanced tothe next picture. lThe exposure opening is therefore closed during the advancing movement of the film.v The high portions of the cam groove cause the s utter arm and shutter carried thereby to be oscillated to the position shown in dotted lines'in Fig. 1. As there are three or" these outcurves or high portions in the cam, the will be oscillated up and down "t 1 to one exposure ci2 each picture,H

cations,

lopening, that is,

during the period of time ,during which the picture is being positioned with respect to the exposure opening and twice during the actual exposure of the picture and while the picture is relatively stationary. l

The invention is capable of many modifione of which 1s illustrated 1n Fig. 4.-. Here, as in the first instance, the shutter arm z' is pivoted on acenter 2 extending substantially at right angles to the plane of the axis of the exposure 0 ening. The shutter arm carries a shutter b ade i adapted to obscure the exposure opening. In' this case the shutter is oscillated to both sides of the exposure up past the exposure opening and down pastl the exposure opening,

instead` of, as in the first case, where the shutter is merely oscillated up and down between the exposure opening and a point above the ex osure openin The means for'accomplis ing this resu t is illustrated in the form of a crank disk z'5`on the shaft a8 4and havin a crank pin i engaging a longitudinal s ot z" in the shutter arm. IThe movement of the shutter blade up and down both above and below `the exposure `opening is indicated in dotted lines. The direction of rotation of the crank disk here is the same as the'direction of rotation othe shutter cam in Fig. 1. On account of the difference in leverage which the crank pin will exert when it is at the opposite ends of the crank slot, the movement of the shutter downward, that is, in the same direction as the movement of the ilm, will be com aratively slow as compared to the upwar movement of the shutter, position at the inner end of the slot, nearest the point of pivotal sup ort for the arm. Theshutter blade is thereigore timed to move down with the advancing movement of the lm substantially at the same speed as such film, and to move up again ast theexposure opening during the exhi ition of the picture at a speed greater than the downward movement. In this case there are only two obscurations to each'exhibition of the picture, that is, to each cycle of operation of the machine. The shutter moves down to cut off the light during the advancing movement of the film, and then moves upward to again obscure the light and during the exhibition of the picture. This latter movement during the exhibition ofthepicture is quicker-than the obscuration during the advancin movement of the iilm, but, if found desirab e, the shutter could be operated to move at the same relative speed at all times.

It will be noted that in both forms of the invention illustrated, the edgeof the shutter blade is disposed arallel to the upper and lowe"parallel edges of the exposure opening, so that during its up and down movements, the shutter will cut ofi the light een `y across the full widftlfi of the picture.

when the crank pin is in the oaogzos opening, a shutter pivoted at right angles to the axis of the exposure opening, and means for oscillating said shutter past the exposure opening a plurality of times to each cycle of the machine, one of said movements takin place during the downward movement o .the film and substantially at lthe same speed as the movement ofthe film.

2. In a moving picture machine having an exposure opening, means for intermittently moving the film past the exposure opening, a shutter, means for continuously operating said'shutter to move it past the exposure opening a plurality of times to each cycle speeds, the slower one of said movements taking place during the downward movesame speed as the exposure opening ment of thel film and at substantially the same speed as the movement of the film.

3. In a moving picture machine having an exposure opening, means for intermittently moving the film past the exposure opening, a shutter, means for continuously reciprocating said shutter to move it past the'exposure opening a plurality of times to each c cle of the machine but at unequal speeds, tiie slower one of said movements being the downward movement and taking place duri gv the advancing movement o the film anrd at the same speed as, the movement of the film.

4. In a moving picture machine having 4an exposure openin means for intermittently moving the lm past the exposure opening, a shutter pivoted at right angles to-the axis of the exposure opening, means for continuously reciprocating said shutter to move it past the exposure o ening a lurality of times to each cycle o the mac inev but at *unequal speeds, the slower one ot said movements takin place during the downward movement o the film and at the the movement of the film.

5. In a moving picture machine having an exposure opening, means foi intermittently advancing the film past the exiposure apted to allow the lm to such. intermittent angles to the axis of the exposure opening, a shutterv blade carried by said arm, and means for movin the shutter blade past once during each exposure of the film and once during each movement of the film.

of the machine but at unequal 6. In a moving picture machine having a rectangular exposure opening, a shutter arm pivoted at right angles to the axis of the exposure opening, a rectangular shutter blade carried by said arm', with its edges disposed parallel to the edges of the exposure opening and means Jfor oscillating the arm and shutter carried thereby past the exposure opening with a quick movement in one direction and a slower movement in the opposite direction. l

7. In a moving picture machine provided with an exposure opening, a shutter arm pivoted at one side of the exposure opening and provided with a slot therein, a shutter blade carried on the end of the shutter arm and standing at right angles to the length of' the arm, and a crank disk having a crank pin for engagement with the slot in the shutter arm for imparting oscillation thereto.

8. In a moving picture machine having an exposure opening, means for advancing the film intermittently past the exposure opening, a shutter, pivotally supported at right angles to the axis of the exposure opening, and means for reciprocating said shutter to pass the exposure opening a plurality of times to each cycle of the machine.

9. In a moving picture machine having an exposure opening, means for advancing the film intermittently past the exposure openin a shutter, and means for reciprocating said shutter to. pass the exposure opening a' plurality of times to each cycle of the machine, one of said movements of the shutter takin the fiImy advancing means.

10. In a moving picture machine, a plate a l u having an exposure opening therein formed with parallel upper and lower edges, an arm pivoted at right angles to the axis of the exposure opening, a shutter blade carried by.

said arm and having upper and lower edges parallel to the upper and lower edges of the exposure opening, and operating means connected to the shutter arm adapted to cause the shutter blade to be oscillated past the ex osure opening.

11. n a movingpicture machine provided with an ,exposure opening, a shutter arm pivotally su ported. at one end, a shutter blade carrie thereby, and means engaging the arm adjacent the point of pivotal support for actuating the shutter blade to move the same from a .point` above the exposure openingl down astythe exposure opening to a point below t e same, during each exhibition of the picture.

12. In a moving picture machine rovided with an exposure opening, means or intermittently advancin the film past the exposure opening,a s utterassociated with .the ex osure opening, and means for moving said shutter from a point to one side of the place during the downward stroke of p means engaging the exposure opening, si e of the ex osure opening, and then back to the origina position, durln and between each intermittent movement o the film.

'13. In a kinetoscope provide'dwith a light aperture, a shutter comprising a plate, the bottom edge of which is always parallel to the bottom edge of said aperture, an arm Secured to said plate and plvoted to said kinetoscope, a disk in operative connection with said arm and means for rotating said disk to oscillate said arm and plate.

14. In a moving picture machine provided with an exposure opening, a shutter arm pivotedy at one end and provided with a lonitudinal slot therein, .a shutter blade carried Ey the opposite end slot in t-he shutter arm at a point adjacent the pivotal support for imparting oscillating movement to the arm.

5 In a moving picture machine havin an exposure openin provided with paralle up er and lower e Ges, a shutter arm provldled with a longitudinal slot and pivoted at right angles to the axis of the exposure opento a point to the oppositeV of the arm, and driving ing, a shutter blade carried by one end of the shutter arm and having upper and lower edges parallel to the upper and lower edges of the exposure opening, and a crank in engaging the slot in the shutter arm for 1mpartin as oscillating movement thereto.

v 16. n a moving picture machine provided with an exposure opening, means for intermittently advancing the film past the exposure opening, a shutter arm pivoted at right' angles to the axis of the exposure opening, a shutter blade carried thereby,

and means for moving the shutter arm to carry the shutter blade from a point to one side of the exposure o ening to a point on the opposite slde .of t e exposure openin at eachA intermittent movement of the film. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of the subscribing witnesses this 21st day of April 1908. y

GEORGE W. BINGHAM. Witnesses:

GEORGE F. BENTLEY, J. C. LARsEN. 

